Hold public hearing on potential city council voting districts
In Plain English
The California Voting Rights Act requires cities to consider switching from at-large elections to district-based voting if it would improve representation for minority communities. Richmond currently elects all council members citywide. The city must hold public hearings to gather input before deciding whether to create geographic districts where residents vote only for candidates in their neighborhood.
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Votes
Motion · Official minutes
Schedule two community workshops before January 20, 2019, with monolingual translators, using December 3 and 17, 2019 City Council meetings as community workshops
5 aye · 1 nay · 1 absent
Why This Vote Matters
Richmond will hold two community workshops by January 20, 2019, with translators for non-English speakers to gather public input on whether the city should switch from citywide council elections to neighborhood-based districts. The council approved this with broad support in a 5-1 vote, with only Mayor Butt dissenting and Councilmember Willis absent. This process stems from California's Voting Rights Act, which requires cities to consider district voting if it would better represent minority communities. The workshops will use the December 3 and 17 council meetings as forums for residents to share their views on how Richmond should elect its leaders.
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Related agenda records
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Resolution Declaring City's Intention to initiate By-District Elections
Ordinance Adjusting the Boundaries of Council Districts
Public hearing on voting district boundaries
District-based elections feasibility research
Redistricting Public Hearing